Implementation and Work to Date
The Minister for Health launched the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024 on Tuesday 26 November 2019.
Since 2018, Health Consumers’ Council (HCC) has been working in partnership with the Department of Health and the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to ensure the consumer voice is front and centre of policy and service planning in this area.
Obesity is also identified in the WA Sustainable Health Review as a priority. In this short video (11m) we give an overview of what we know about that work as of early August 2021.
Projects
The WELL Collaborative (formerly WA Obesity Collaborative) (Action 1.1)
One of the key action points under the Healthy Weight Action Plan is to formalise the WA Obesity Collaborative, to connect agendas and drive, facilitate, and coordinate action within in the scope of the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan.
The collaborative approach will provide a platform for people with lived experience, health professionals, and policy makers to work together to take positive action.
Feedback since the launch of the Action Plan has shown that this name didn’t resonate with consumers, nor did it fully encompass what the initiative stands for. Through the feedback with consumers and key stakeholders, the initiative has developed a new name and a new look that considers the full spectrum of experiences of people living with overweight and obesity.
This project, currently under development, is now known as The Weight Education and Lifestyle Leadership Collaborative aka The WELL Collaborative.
Quality Criteria and Outcomes based framework – Curtin University (Action 5.1)
A set of quality indicators and an outcomes framework is being developed to assess what quality health service looks like in the area of overweight and obesity. HCC has been involved in the development of this project, sharing insights from consumers and holding targeted discussions to find out what is important to consumers when it comes to healthy weight services and programs.
Total Meal Replacement trial – Diabetes WA
A pilot of an innovative approach trialing the use of total meal replacement products and telehealth support from allied health staff is being led by Diabetes WA. HCC organised a consumer workshop in 2020 and is involved in the project steering committee.
Shift. A guide for media and communications professionals
East Metropolitan Health Service developed a guide to support media and communications professionals to change the narrative around obesity. HCC had input into the draft document and has been promoting this widely.
Workforce development – East Metropolitan Health Service
East Metropolitan Health Service is developing training for health professionals on how to talk about weight and what support services are available. HCC is providing feedback on the draft course.
GP Healthy Weight Project – WA Primary Health Alliance
The WA Primary Health Alliance is working to improve the capability of general practices to engage in weight management quality improvement activities and deliver suitable weight management assessment and intervention services. HCC is working closely to provide consumer perspectives on this project.
Consumer Advisory Group
HCC’s Healthy Weight Action Plan Consumer Advisory Group provides a consumer perspective on a range of activities related to the implementation of the Health Weight Action Plan.
How consumer feedback shaped the Action Plan
HCC believes it is important that conversations around the Healthy Weight Action Plan are informed by people with lived experience of overweight and obesity.
We gathered consumer perspectives via a survey, workshops, and an online invitation for people to share their stories. You can read a summary of the consumer engagement activities that informed the first phase of this project.
The Action Plan is not “business as usual” for the health system. We are particularly interested in the inclusion of the actions that recognise a new way of working is needed to really impact on this complex health issue.
2020 video update
Helen Mitchell from the Department of Health spoke at a virtual consumer representative drop-in session on how the Action Plan was developed with consumer input, and how the Action Plan is starting to be implemented.
Previous community events
World Obesity Day virtual event
The Obesity Collective hosted a 90-minute virtual event on World Obesity Day 2021 with speakers from across the country.
This session explored many aspects of obesity through a series of ‘rapid talks’ from consumer organisations and health professionals. HCC’s Deputy Director Clare Mullen presented on involving people with lived experience in planning services. The recording of this event can be accessed here.
Community Information Sessions
We regularly hold community information sessions to provide updates on the implementation of the Action Plan and opportunities for conversation around healthy weight.
In February 2021 we held a session with Weight Issues Network and The Obesity Collective, exploring how to speak up for better services for treating overweight and obesity and the importance of sharing our stories to influence change. The recording of the session can be accessed here.
In December 2020 we provided an update on how consumer perspectives were influencing the implementation of the Healthy Weight Action Plan. You can view the slides here and a recording of the session can be accessed here.
In October 2020 we held a community morning tea that explored three key themes in this space: costs and accessibility of services; clarity of information; links around overweight and obesity with mental health and stigma.
